3 x 12 — The Best of Dance Advantage 2009

2009

It’s been an incredibly packed year! Over 120 posts were added to this blog in 2009 and when I look back I must admit that I’m rather proud of the quality of much of that information. I know that I have grown and learned so much as a writer this year. I was so happy to welcome a handful of guest bloggers this year as well, particularly as my 1-year-old son became a 2-year-old!

And Dance Advantage has come a long way too!

At the start of the year, this blog was still hosted for free at wordpress.com. Though in January I had been blogging less than a year, I had already decided that to make this blog function the way I wanted, I would have to bite the bullet and jump into self-hosting. By April we had a new location and by May, a new look. I’m never satisfied and I don’t love the tediousness and headaches of maintaining a site (especially when I don’t really know what I’m doing!), BUT it’s been an exciting ride!

It’s also been exciting to watch this small community expand.

The blog is only part of it – Twitter followers, Facebook fans, you are some of my most loyal readers! I believe subscriptions to the blog/newsletter have tripled since the beginning of 09. I’m in awe and completely humbled that so many have visited and regularly read what’s here. And I am so thankful for those of you who comment and who take the time to voice your appreciation. It truly means so much to me!

3 x 12 = 36

Students, Teachers, and Parents are the focus of this dance blog. For each of the 12 months of 2009, there was at least one post for you. Below are 36 links (well, more than 36 actually) leading to the best Dance Advantage articles of 2009. What makes these posts the best? No real criteria. It is easy for articles to get “buried” on a blog that constantly updates information. Many of you who may not have even heard of this blog in January! These are the posts that I felt most proud of, that I felt provided truly useful tips or knowledge, and those in which I felt newcomers might be most interested. I hope you’ll agree it is a diverse collection that clearly illustrates the purpose of Dance Advantage.

Without Further Ado…

January was a busy burst of information in 2009!

For Students: Defining and Dissecting a Piqué Turn

For Teachers: 12 Tips for Teaching Tots

For Parents: A FREE Download for Parents of Dancers (Lisa Howell’s Parent’s Manual)

Honorable mention: What to Look for in a Dance Studio — This one is a bit of a cheat, as it compiles links to four important posts on DA (all of which were written in 2008)!

February is admittedly slim, Hey, I was into heavy rehearsal, but these are keepers.

For Students: 7 Secrets of Super Performers

For Teachers: Choreographic Inspiration — Using Your Past in Future Dances

For Parents: What Has Dance Taught You About Life? (Okay, not officially for parents but this is a great place to learn of additional ways dance can affect the life of your child… straight from those who live it. P.S. Feel free to keep the conversation going!)

March roared in with a handful of key posts for students.

For Students: 7 Ways Dance is Like Learning the ABC’s

For Teachers: How to Be a Great Teacher’s Assistant (Teachers have told me they refer their assistants to this post!)

For Parents: Guest Post: Life as a Dance Mom — Finding the Balance Between Friend and Fanatic

Honorable mention: Just as I slipped this post in at the very end of March, I’m slipping it in here. Why? Because I think I managed a decent answer to a good question! What is Artistry and How Do I Develop It?

April was a shower of articles on topics from Facebook to Eco-Friendly studios.

For Students: How To Do a Proper “Crunch” — Activating Your Core

For Teachers: Approaching Choreography for Musical Theatre

For Parents: Appraising the Value of Praise (a post for parents and teachers)

May was a time of rebirth for DA with lots of info.

For Students: Backstage Bliss — 11 Rules of Thumb for Students in a Dance Recital

For Teachers: Mustering their Motivation — Strategies for Engaging and Inspiring Students

For Parents: A Celebration of Dance Moms (special Mother’s Day post)

Honorable mention: Teachers, May’s posts on curriculum and lesson planning were also a hit!

June was just busting with articles on music and more.

For Students: Strategies for Remembering Choreography

For Teachers: Five Favorites: Music for Children’s Classes

For Parents: Why and How to Encourage Students to See Concert Dance

July had a little bit of everything.

For Students: How NOT to Ask a Question in Dance Class

For Teachers: Top 10 Reasons Teachers Should Continue Their Education (psst! Check the bottom of this post to get some ideas about where to continue!

For Parents: Accentuate the Positive — How to encourage and reinforce the positive aspects of competitive dance

Whew! Take 5… 678

August had me sweating as I blogged from the road on our family vacay

For Students: How and Why to Strengthen the Inner Thigh

For Teachers: Back to School — Props and Classroom Aids

For Parents: Parents, Which Type of Helicopter Are You?

September spotlighted the professional dance world.

For Students: Gracing the Stage — My Interview with Houston Ballet’s Joseph Walsh

For Teachers: Biographies You Can Sink Your Teeth Into (Teachers, relax with a good book, you deserve it!)

For Parents: Guest Post: The Professional Dancer’s Survival Kit (Parents need to know what it takes too)

October fell together as we welcomed fall.

For Students: Lifting Your Leg from Underneath and Other Impossible Feats

For Teachers: Introducing the Iliopsoas (a nice brush-up for instructors)

For Parents: Help! My Child Doesn’t Listen to the Dance Teacher! Part I (Be sure to navigate to Part II!)

November’s posts were already warming up for December.

For Students: Stretching Safely for Splits

For Teachers: Keeping Rhythm Fascinatin’ – How to Make Tap Dance Come Alive (an excellent start by new Tapography columnist, Sarah Mason)

For Parents: Sweet Exchange with a Sugar Plum Fairy

December included a big giveaway but a few things to think about as well.

For Students: Oversplits — Overdoing It?

For Teachers: Guest Post: Confessions of a Busy Dance Mom

For Parents: This Dancer’s Response to World AIDS Day In the spirit of the season, I encourage you to assist dancers and performers in need of financial assistance due to AIDS and other diseases – help me raise just $300.

Too much to read at once? Bookmark it!

Where do we go from here? I have some plans for 2010 but you will have a hand in what Dance Advantage becomes.

If you want to be the first to know when big things happen or just be sure that you don’t miss new posts when they arrive, subscribe to the blog. If you want to get to know me a bit better, Twitter is a good start. I happy to give tips to newbies – just say hello!

Have a healthy, joyous, and successful 2010! Thanks for reading.

Write for Dance Advantage!

Do you have something you want to share with dance students, teachers, or parents?

Did you know that I accept submissions for guest posts and contributions here at Dance Advantage? You don’t have to be a fellow blogger. You don’t have to be a professional writer. You don’t even have to be a dancer. What is required is a passion for your topic and preferably for dance or education itself. I welcome posts from other dance teachers, students, parents, professionals, those knowledgeable in related fields, or… I don’t know, surprise me! Why? Because I don’t know everything (oh boy, is that true!) and because I believe in sharing ideas, presenting a wide variety of perspectives, and learning from one another.

So here’s the thing, if you think you have something to say on a particular subject, let me know! Can you use the exposure to promote your blog, website, studio, product, etc.? Sure, your byline is a great place to do that. However, refrain from scattering self-links throughout the post. Content here should always be informative and useful to the reader, first and foremost. When I write posts, I write as someone who has been (and still is) on the other end of things, searching for tools and tips that will improve the work that I do as a teacher, as a writer, as a dancer still learning, and as a parent. If you think you can do the same, then let’s chat.

Do I have to have an article ready to show you?

Not right now. We can talk about what you’d like to write about first and make sure the topic is a fit for this blog. I’d hate for you to do all that writing for nothing. BUT, feel free to just send along a submission if you like. I’ll be happy to consider it. I don’t publish my e-mail address here because it helps to keep my inbox clear of spam. So, it is best to make contact first and let me know you’d like to send something.

Will everything submitted make it onto the blog?

Nope. Here are some guidelines that will improve your chances, though: Submitting a Guest Post. If you are new at the whole blog-writing thing, I can help tweak a post that contains good information. If the article or concept isn’t right within the context of the blog, however, there’s not much I can do.

Can I contribute regularly or just once?

That depends. You are, of course, welcome to submit more than one post and to do so whenever the moment strikes. I’m open to forming relationships with those who have an interest in a recurring role. I’d rather this happen organically. I don’t have any positions that I’m trying to fill, in other words.

Suppose you accept my article, will I be paid?

Sorry, but no. Guest appearances can help bring awareness of your site or business to my readers. And you’ll be “paying it forward” by sharing your expertise.

What kind of articles are you looking for?

Primarily, posts must be relevant to the core audience of the blog (it helps if you’re familiar with what goes on around here). Beyond that, the sky is the limit. There is no age limit or qualifying experiences required so write about what you know. If you are a student, feel free to write from that perspective. If you have an experience to share that would benefit others, let’s hear it. If you know how to do something, guide us. Don’t be afraid to write with your own style but take note of the positive tone of this blog.

I’m in!! How can I contact you?

Just fill out the form on the Contact Page. Put “Guest Post” in your subject line. This helps me keep track of submissions, increasing your chances of getting published.

Also, please don’t submit without reading the page which is linked above, or here (for your convenience).

Thank you! I look forward to reading your submissions!

Back to School 2009 — Student Edition

Hope you had a wonderful summer! Did you do some dancing? Are you excited for the dance season to begin (or has it already)? Here are some past Dance Advantage posts that will help to prepare you for the year ahead.

Getting Your Head in the Game

• Strengths and Weaknesses — We’ve all got ‘em! Read how to make the most of yours!
• I Can’t! — You CAN overcome the I Can’ts. Don’t miss this one!
• 7 Ways Dance is Like Learning the ABC’s — I challenge YOU to come up with the 7th!
• Approaching Your Teacher or Studio Owner — You don’t have to be proposing something BIG to make use of these ways to suggest your ideas to a teacher. Let your voice heard in a way that will make your teacher want to listen!

Choreography

• Strategies for Remembering Choreography
• How To Make Choreography “Your Own”

Performance

• 7 Secrets of Super Performers (Improving Your Performance Skills)
• What Is Artistry and How Do I Develop It?

Pretty Self-Explanatory!

• How to Be a Great Teacher’s Assistant
• How NOT To Ask a Question in Dance Class

More, more, more!

Tune up your Technique

There are articles and how-to’s in our Toolbox about turns, jumps, strengthening exercises, common corrections (like sickling) and more. Looking for something specific? Do a keyword search on the home page!

Brush up on Vocabulary

Confused or need to know more about the terminology used in your classes? Click the image below for related posts or do a search!

College Students

Check out the College Guide Series!

Back to School 2009 — Teacher Edition

Is it really that time of year already?

As you put together and plan your classes for the coming dance season, here’s a look back at some Dance Advantage articles that may be of use to you.

Class/Lesson Planning –

Class Planning Part One: Developing a Curriculum Outline

Class Planning Part Two: Focusing on Skills and Concepts in Lesson Plans

Teaching Young Dancers –

12 Tips for Teaching Tots

Children and Dance

Objectives

How to Develop Musical Awareness in Dance Students

Teaching and Exploring the History and Evolution of Dance

Why and How to Encourage Students to See Concert Dance

Mustering their Motivation: Strategies for Engaging and Inspiring Students

Reflection and Journaling for Dancers

Encouraging Boys to Dance

Studio Biz

12 Steps to a More Eco-Friendly Dance Studio

Comparing Facebook Pages and Groups — Which is Best for My Dance Studio?

Facebook Privacy How-To: Maintaining a Student/Teacher Relationship

Also, check out this new resource from Rhee Gold — DanceStudioBiz — Design, order, and print newsletters, brochures, and other promotional items online!

For more articles on technique, choreography, terminology, and music, visit The Toolbox! This lists (chronologically) all the posts on this blog that give all dancers (teachers and students) tools they can use for class and performance. The Toolbox is separated into subcategories. Check out the drop-down menu for Toolbox in the Dance Advantage navigation bar (top right, under the DA logo/header).

Coming Soon!!

Stay tuned here at Dance Advantage for a list of dance-friendly props for children’s classes (and where to find them)!

9 Posts for Parents

What It Takes – Becoming a Ballerina

A post with links to some excellent articles and first-hand experiences about becoming a ballerina (or ballerino) and the sacrifices a dancer and their family makes during the process.

Dance of Independence

What to expect when a young child begins their first dance class, how to calm their worries, and encourage their independence.

The Thought That Counts

Gift-buying strategies for that special dance teacher.

What to Look for in a Dance Studio

A favorite collection of posts here at Dance Advantage that offer things to think about when choosing a dance school and also how to decide if a school is right for you and your dancer.

Life as a Dance Mom: Finding the Balance Between Friend and Fanatic

Accentuate the Positive

Similar themes for these two articles. One is written by Guest Poster and dance mom, Mariangela. The other is my take on the subject.

Appraising the Value of Praise

Encouraging self-confidence – an article for parents and teachers, this offers examples of ways to praise your dancer.

When Should My Child See a Doctor for Injuries?

Some guidelines for concerned parents or those who’d like to be prepared when injuries occur.

A FREE Download for Parents of Dancers

This free e-book by Lisa Howell is still available and highly recommended for parents of dancers (particularly those in ballet and/or pointe).